Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Gets A More Powerful Diesel Heart

• 1.5-litre DDiS 225 engine makes 5PS and 25Nm more than the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel.
• Claimed fuel efficiency figure stands at 24.20 kmpl.
• This comes shortly after Maruti’s announcement to phase out diesel engines by April 2020.
• Maruti has also hinted that it could upgrade the 1.5-litre diesel motor to BS 6 norms, if there is demand.
• Ertiga 1.3-litre diesel variants to be on sale till stocks last.

Maruti Suzuki has introduced the 1.5-litre DDiS 225 diesel engine along with a 6-speed manual transmission for the new Ertiga. The 1.5-litre mill is an in-house developed engine which debuted with the Ciaz in March 2019. The new engine is more powerful and advanced than the 1.3-litre diesel, which is all set to be phased out after the implementation of BS 6 norms by April 2020. While Maruti has already announced that it will stop selling all diesel cars by April 2020, it has also specified that the 1.5-litre diesel motor could be updated to BS 6 compliance, if there is demand.

When it comes to power figures, the DDiS 225 churns out 95PS of power with a peak torque of 225Nm coming in between 1500-2500rpm. Maruti Suzuki is also claiming an impressive efficiency figure of 24.20kmpl for the new engine. Here is a snapshot of the performance figures for the new motor in comparison to the old Fiat-sourced DDiS 200.

Not only does the new engine make more power and torque, but it also gets an advanced 6-speed manual transmission as opposed to the 5-speed manual gearbox. The claimed efficiency figure is also impressive, even though it is a notch below the old 1.3-litre engine, which is understandable. While the new engine is available only from VDI onwards, the variants with the old 1.3-litre motor will continue to be on sale until stocks last. Post that, the Ertiga will not be available in the base LDI variant.

All prices ex-showroom, Delhi.

The Ertiga with the DDiS 225 motor is dearer by around Rs 30,000 than the 1.3-litre variant. The Ertiga is currently India’s best-selling MPV with the facelifted version clocking a sale of over 40,000 units since its launch in November 2018. And while the DDiS 225 does not get mild-hybrid capabilities, it already comes with the petrol 1.5-litre motor with Suzuki’s SHVS system. Prices for the petrol Ertiga range from Rs 7.44 lakh to Rs 9.95 lakh (both ex-showroom Delhi).